G od gave us life and dominion over the world. God desires for us to be blessed, to receive reward, experience love, peace, joy, and have an abundant life. We know from reading Genesis that God blessed His creation, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28 NIV). Mark Batterson calls this the “original blessing” in his book, Double Blessing. God gives us so many things, and in the act of giving, we are gifted many things because of God’s love and generosity. When God gives, it is in the form of blessings. Merriam-Webster defines the word “give” as, “1: to make a present of; 2a: to grant or bestow by formal action; 2b: to accord or yield to another; 3a: to put into the possession of another for his or her use.”

God certainly gives us so much, but there are a few things God asks us to do. In our obedience, we receive the blessing that comes from submission to our Lord. One of those things God asks of us is to tithe and bring offerings. Tithing is mentioned in many books of Scripture: Deuteronomy, Numbers, Chronicles, Hebrews, Luke, etc. We are asked to give ten percent of what God blesses us with (earnings, yield, gifts, or other forms of increase) because it is already His. We are also not supposed to withhold from God. In other words, do not create a false idol by putting things or persons before God.

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. (Deuteronomy 11:13–16 NIV)

We also read in Scripture the desires of God’s heart concerning our giving and the caution of not giving with a glad heart. Tithes are an outward fulfillment of God’s command to us. We are giving God the best of what we harvest or earn.

Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, says the Lord Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land, says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:8-12)

Tithing, while commanded by the word of God, has an earthly financial benefit. Cash contributions made to qualifying organizations like Transformation Life Church are tax-deductible. Recently, the IRS made a change to income tax legislation. The IRS has (temporarily) suspended limits on charitable contributions. If you itemize deductions (Schedule A of the 1040 federal income tax return) on your tax return, this is a huge benefit.

 In most cases, the amount of charitable cash contributions taxpayers can deduct on Schedule A as an itemized deduction is limited to a percentage (usually 60 percent) of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI). Qualified contributions are not subject to this limitation. Individuals may deduct qualified contributions of up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income. Contributions that exceed that amount can carry over to the next tax year. To qualify, the contribution must be a cash contribution; made to a qualifying organization; and made during the calendar year 2020.¹

So, 2020 is a great year to give and be generous! By taking advantage of maximizing your cash contributions you can significantly lower the amount of federal taxes you owe. If the amounts you contribute this year exceed the IRS’s temporary contribution limits, it can be carried over to the next tax year, too. Your cash contributions also support the church and its ministry and other organizations that qualify, like humanitarian organizations, medical research, or organizations that help people in need. This may allow you to double your blessings; you are in obedience to the Lord and receive material blessings by lowering your tax bill this year and maybe even next year.

We should keep in our minds and hearts that by giving monetarily or through stewardship in the name of our Lord, it is not the size or amount of your gift. God is not measuring the size of your gift, but the state of your heart when you give. 

Remember, we are only giving back to God a small portion of what He has given to us to enjoy while here on earth. God wants to reward and bless you because of your cheerful heart. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV)

     1 Internal Revenue Service, Publications 526.

Helpful Resources

1. Mark Batterson, Double Blessing: Don’t Settle for Less Than You’re Called to Bless, Multnomah, October 2019.
2. Bishop Paul King, Tithing: You Lied to Me!, Lulu.com, January 2013.